“The agreement benefits your planet,” Doslin said. “Denver can supply the details. I have to go and brief another agent.”
She turned, lifted either side of her peach robe and shuffled out of the room.
Denver sat on the bench. Charlie and Layla both stood over him. He looked up and took a deep breath. “I need to carry out a mission for them to fulfill their agreement.”
“A mission?” Charlie said and felt anger bubble up inside. “What kind of thing are we talking about?
“I need to find a lost human planet for them. Our original one.”
Layla shook her head. “What the hell are you talking about? How do you even begin to attempt that? I don’t—”
Her voice cracked. She bit her finger and bowed her head.
“What kind of shit have they been spinning you? Original one?” Charlie said.
“We’re one of the oldest species in the galaxy,” Denver said in a rational tone. He’d obviously bought into the idea. “When Vingo told us we were spread around the universe, he forgot to mention that we inhabit three hundred and fifty-nine planets. Earth, the one we’re from, is apparently number ninety-seven, according to the Drone.”
“Even if that were true…” Charlie said, although he’d long dropped the notion of seeing anything as farfetched. “Why you, and how are you supposed to help?”
“The drone mentioned something about an algorithm and that I’m human. It didn’t expand beyond that. When I complete the mission, we’ll all be safe and I come home. The scion are providing me with the resources I need.”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Layla said. “They could be sending you on an impossible mission. To your death…”
She wiped a tear from her cheek and sniffed. Charlie knew Layla had feelings for Denver, but she broke down quickly. He simmered internally. “I’m coming with you. I’m not allowing you to go on your own.”
Denver sighed and shook his head. “It’s a one-man mission. That’s the deal. Humans created the scion. We’re inextricably linked. Hagellan and a few other croatoans had some artifacts, other parts of information are hidden around the galaxy. They believe the answer they’re looking for is on the first Earth.”
Layla sat next to him and placed her hand on his knee. “You can’t do it. This is crazy!”
“Crazy?” Denver said. “Look around you and tell me what isn’t? By doing this I keep Earth safe. They even think they might find clues in caves below Unity. That’s why Mike agreed to the proposition too. This works out good for all of us.”
“Doesn’t work out good for you,” Charlie said and sat on the other side of him. He understood that Denver agreed to the request in order to keep everyone safe, but they always did things together. “I want to speak to the Drone.”
“Forget it,” Denver said. “I’m happy doing the mission. What use will I be on Earth in peacetime? I spent my whole life fighting aliens. You two know what a settled world looks like. I have no idea and might not even fit in.”
“Why not give it a chance?” Layla said. “I thought we might…”
“Have a future?” Denver said. “As much as I love you…” His cheeks flushed and he gazed at his boots. “My future is elsewhere. I’ve got no intention of failing and I will be back.”
Layla turned away, cupped her face, and sobbed.
Charlie slowly nodded, understanding the motivation and reasoning behind his son’s decision. As much as he didn’t like it, he would’ve done the same thing. Denver returned his gesture of acceptance.
Denver took it on the chin when Charlie decided to take a bomb up to the mother ship. As much as Charlie hated it, he had to afford his son the same latitude. The decision was based on the survival and safety of the remaining humans on Earth.
“You know if you don’t come back, I will personally hunt you down?” Charlie said.
“I’m counting on it,” Denver said and cracked a smile. “I didn’t even explore the possibility of refusing. Doesn’t take a genius to work out what might happen.”
Layla stood and walked away. She drank her cup of water and stared at a row of five prisms that floated down the ramp of the scion ship.
Charlie hadn’t spent half as much time with her as Denver, but he liked Layla. Bonds forged in adversity were often the strongest. He understood her mood and felt the same way internally, but Denver needed support from this point forward, until he headed off on his mission to find the first Earth.
The door on the opposite side of the room opened. Doslin stood in the gap. “Are you ready to go?”
“Never been more ready to get off this shithole,” Charlie said.
“You need to put your suits back on until you reach the prepared area in the ship. The scion will instruct you from there.”
Denver linked his arm with Layla’s, gently encouraged her away from the window, and they all followed Doslin. Although Charlie never said the words out loud, he never expected to reach this moment, whatever the circumstances.
Chapter 39
MIKE AND MAI were interrupted from a quiet cuddle with the cracking of the sky and a rumble that shook the ground, giving Mike a flashback to when those damned croatoans came up from beneath the earth.
At first he thought this was another one of Augustus’ plans. Perhaps he had found another stock of croatoan destroyers still embedded in the planet’s interior. But when a shadow blotted out the sun of their chalet, he grunted. “What the hell is that now?” he said.
Mai unwrapped her arms from him and sat up with a wince. She was still recovering and was under strict orders to take it easy, but then Mike had never seen anyone give Mai an order that she would follow unless it was her idea.
The two of them leaned forward and heaved up from the comfy surface of the sofa and staggered, helping each other’s frail, beat-up bodies to the window.
The glass in the frame rattled as lightning and storm clouds gathered.
A gale blew against the window, bringing with it a shower of rain and dust.
“I don’t bloody believe it,” Mai said, turning to Mike. “After all this time, this struggle, all the victories and sacrifices, we now get hit with the apocalypse.”
“That thing is no group of horsemen,” Mike said.
They shared a smile and turned their attentions backed to the window.
As startling as it was, Mike already recognized the shape as the black sharp corner edged below the thick cloud cover.
“It’s our holographic friends,” Mike said.
“I wasn’t expecting them so quick,” Mai replied. “At least they’re punctual. That’s got to be a good sign, right?”
Mike shrugged. “I’m not so sure, Mussolini apparently was great at making sure the trains ran on time and look what happened there.”
“What is it with evil fascists and punctuality, anyway?” Mai asked.
“Small matters for small minds, my love.”
“Let’s hope this lot have bigger minds than the croatoans and our old friend Augustus.”
“I’m sure they do,” Mike replied. “They hired us, after all. Does that not show impeccable and distinguished taste?”
They both chuckled, mostly with nervous energy, but Mike had always loved Mai for her ability to add levity to almost any situation. She firmly believed that solemnity was a wasted emotion, that it added nothing, served nothing, and sucked one’s life away.
In the darkest of situations, she believed, humor was what would get you through, make sure you didn’t give up, and most important of all, remind you that you’re human and not just a manifestation of your circumstances.